Twin handle heated air round brush dryer/styler

ABSTRACT

A twin handled round hair styling brush with a first or right handle, a second or left handle that is a duplicate shape and size of the first or right handle, a round hollow center bristle base with bristles that can be made of several different bristle types that are used for drying, curling and styling hair, a motorized fan and heating element which is used to blow an even airflow onto the hair with the motorized fan and heating element housed inside the heat resisting round hollow center bristle base the round hair brush, an electrical power cord with a hi/lo/off regulator switch with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) cord connected to the motorized fan and heating element housed inside the bristle base and housed and run through the left handle portion.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/338,322 (“the '322 application”) filed Feb. 17, 2010. The '322 application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hair styling appliance, particularly to electrically powered brushes that force hot air to flow through brush bristles for drying and styling hair in an easier, faster, and safer way for any user. Various known hair care appliances include electric brushes that emit heated air past brush bristles for styling hair have been noted. Other hair styling appliances such as: heated blow dryers, curling irons and flat irons provide their own function.

With the presently used “Round Brush Technique”, the user has to hold a blow dryer with one hand while twirling a round brush in the other. Holding the blow dryer above the hair while moving the brush in a circular motion with the other is an awkward position which can cause wrist, arm and shoulder pain after a short period of time

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hair styling brush comprising two (2) handles and a head which has brush bristles projecting from the head with the head area, providing a heated airflow temperature from the center of the brush for hair styling.

The object of this invention is to eliminate the handling of the traditional blow dryer and styling round brush. Most professional hair stylists cannot provide the round brush styling technique simply because lack of training in this type service. This invention changes all that. The two handles and the motorized fan and heating element housed in the center of the brush itself, allows anyone to utilize this technique easily in a professional hair salon or at home. The user has total control at all times.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single hair appliance that functions as a blow dryer, heated rotating air brush, curling iron and flat iron. The present invention is designed to be used by professional hair stylists who aren't aware of the “Round Brush Technique”, and the professional hair stylist using the original blow dryer over round brush technique and persons providing their own hair care services at home. The present invention balances the styling operation with the use of the twin handles and by assembling the motorized heated airflow inside the center portion of the ceramic multi vented round brush. which allows the air to flow directly onto the brush bristles while meeting the hair strands.

It is an object of this invention to provide a two (2) handled electric drying, curling and styling heated brush with multiple circular air vents throughout a bristle base, which provides an even flow of hot air onto the hair. The two handles allow the user to control the manual rotation of the bristles and the direction of the airflow. The user determines how fast or slow the rotation is by using a circular motion on both handles in any direction desired by the user, unlike DJulbegovic's invention U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,004 B2 Hair Drying/Styling Device which has a single fat handle and a rotating brush. The rotating brush limits the user's control of turning the brush and the use of one large handle is hard to maneuver.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electric ambidextrous heated hair brush appliance comprising a first or right handle, a second or left handle that is a duplicate shape and size of the first or right handle, a round hollow center bristle base with bristles that can be made of several different bristle types that are used for drying, curling and styling hair, a motorized fan and heating element which is used to blow an even airflow onto the hair with the motorized fan and heating element housed inside the heat resisting round hollow center bristle base of the round hair brush, an electrical power cord with a hi/lo/off regulator switch with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) cord connected to the motorized fan and heating element housed inside the bristle base and housed and run through the left handle portion to prevent accidental electrocution. The left handle is hollow so that the electrical cord flows freely as it exits the outer portion of the handle. The heating element is housed inside the bristle base so that the heated air is transferred through the heat resistant bristle base onto the user's hair. This arrangement would work equally as well if the right handle was used instead of the left.

The present invention is a unique system, which combines two products into a single more effective and faster appliance to provide easier unique styling results for any and all users. The motorized fan and the heating element combined within the hollowed center brush play essential roles to get the best styling results from a single hair product.

The purpose of such a design is to direct a high velocity airflow at any angle the user desires to turn and distribute it evenly from the brush. The unique design of the two handled brush itself will provide the user with complete control of the hair. The built-in motorized fan and heating element within the head portion will allow the chosen bristle type to perform and achieve the desired style affect. The present invention can be made with any form and size of bristles that are presently available for the “Round Brush Technique” of hair styling. The user constantly using a pulling motion of the handles and brush bristles and greater tension upon the hair is suitable for straightening the hair and, a constant twist and pull of the handles is a suitable motion for curling the hair. The present invention produces an even airflow which would thoroughly and quickly dry, curl the hair from scalp to ends.

The main reason for superiority of the present invention over the prior inventions is simplicity. The user/consumer can completely eliminate the blow dryer and guide the two handle brush in any direction without any formal training. The user can achieve a desired hairstyle within minutes, both professional hairstylist and any other users. The present invention will provide comfort and freedom and fast results. It is designed to deliver professional results through a simplified technique that anyone can use. The time used for full styling with this invention will be reduced tremendously from the use of an ordinary blow dryer. The present invention will minimize the combined weight on the wrist and arm of the user. The user rotating the brush maintains control by applying a natural downward motion which will provide weight balance. The most effective, painless, easy and cost efficient way to achieve a professional hair style is using the inventive twin handle heated round airbrush dryer/styler.

The present invention can be made with various brush styles, shapes and sizes in order to achieve the desired hairstyle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the inventive hair styling brush.

FIG. 2 is a view of the inventive hair styling brush with one handle disconnected from the round bristle base.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive hair styling brush with one handle disconnected from the round bristle base showing the blower fan.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the round bristle base showing the blower fan and heating coils.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the assembled inventive hair styling brush 1 with a first handle 2 and a second handle 3, each handle having a brush end 13 and an outer end 14. The brush end of both handles 2 and 3 is attached to one of the ends 15 of a round bristle base 12 with bristles 7. The first handle 2, the second handle 3A, and the round bristle base 12 share a common longitudinal axis defining rotation of the hair styling brush 1 in use. Both handles 2 and 3 are fitted with finger grips 4. An electric power cord 5 with a brush end 17 and an external end 16 is shown. The brush end 17 of the power cord 5 enters the outer end 14 of the second handle 3 to energize the blower fan 8 and heating element 9 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The external end 16 of the power cord 5 is fitted with a power plug 6. Also shown in FIG. 1 at the brush end 13 of the second handle 3 are a plurality of intake air vents 10 to allow room air to be drawn in by the blower fan 8 and expelled from a plurality of heated air vents 11 in the round bristle base 12 after being heated by the heating element 9. Although not shown, it is intended that a power switch be installed in the power cord 5 outside the second handle 3.

The handles 2 and 3 are preferably made out of a ceramic material with finger grips 4. The handles 2 and 3 are a perfect palm size for easy operation and control. The handles 2 and 3 are attached to both ends 15 of the round bristle base 12 with a heat resistant adhesive. However, at least one handle may be detachable from the round bristle base 12, and at lease one of the handles, preferably one that is detachable, may be rotatably mounted to an end 15 of the round bristle base 12, allowing that handle to rotate relative to the round bristle base 12 on the common longitudinal axis of the hair styling brush 1. This would allow the user to hold one handle while rotating the other. One handle 3 houses the electrical power cord 5. The power cord 5 is connected to the fan motor and travels through the hollow handle 3. The regulator on/off power switch is housed on the power cord 5 outside the handle 3. This location was chosen so the power switch would not interfere with the handles 2 and 3 while in motion, unlike the previous inventors who attached the power switch directly onto the handle portion. The power switch can be made to turn off/on high/low etc. The present invention can be made with many different size styling brushes and bristles. The vented portion of the round bristle base 12 where the bristles 7 are attached is also made of a ceramic heat resistant material which protects the hair from the direct heat. The present invention is assembled from a series of components including the electrical motor, the fan blade, copper wiring, switching mechanisms, and varies other electrical components. The outside of the present invention is durable, yet light-weight. The present invention produces heat by passing electric current through a wire. The wire has a high level of electrical resistance that causes it to generate heat as the current passes through it. The present invention uses a metal heating element that is made of nichrome, an alloy of nickel and chromium. Unlike other wires made of copper, nichrome will not rust at high temperatures. The wiring looks like a coiled spring and could be up to 12 in (30 cm) long. It is wrapped around an insulating board so that the entire heating element is only a few inches long. The insulating board is made of mica, a material that can stand high levels of heat. Two flat pieces of mica board several inches long are connected to form what looks like a three dimensional “x”, notches are cut in the edges of the board such that when the nichrome wire is wrapped around the board it fits snugly into the slots. At the end of the wire, there is a connection to the circuit that controls the power supply. The power cord 5 contains a switch apparatus and their controls to operate this invention. The electric motor and fan are located in the central part of the brush between both handles 2 and 3 along with the heating element 9. Next to the motor are the intake air vents 10. The intake air vents 10 are covered with a fine mesh metal screen to prevent objects from accidentally getting caught in the fan blades 8 and to protect against anyone sticking their fingers or other objects into the heating element 9. Another safety device is a thermal fuse built into the electrical circuitry. This fuse has a small metal strip that melts if the temperature of the circuit exceeds a certain amount. The circuit will break instantly cutting power to the present invention. Another built-in safety feature is the ground fault circuit interrupter (GCFI) which will prevent electrocution. First the electrical components are assembled, fitted and locked into the brush center. The wires are placed through the hollow handle and face plate which covers the fan blades. The face plate is then secured with a heat resistant adhesive. The power cord is assembled for completion. 

1. A hair styling brush comprising a first handle with a brush end and an outer end, a second handle with a brush end and an outer end, a round hollow center bristle base with bristles and two ends, said brush ends attached to one of the ends of the bristle base, and heating coils and blower fan mounted within the bristle base, said handles and bristle base sharing a common longitudinal axis, and an electric power cord with a brush end and an external end with a plug.
 2. The hair styling brush of claim 1 wherein at least one of the handles has a round hollow center along the common longitudinal axis to receive the brush end of the electric power cord.
 3. The hair styling brush of claim 2 wherein at least one of the handles has intake vents and the bristle base has heated air vents.
 4. The hair styling brush of claim 3 wherein the handles have finger grips.
 5. The hair styling brush of claim 4 wherein the brush end of at least one handle is detachable from the end of the bristle base.
 6. The hair styling brush of claim 4 wherein the brush end of at least one handle is rotatably mounted to an end of the bristle base to allow relative motion between the rotably mounted handle and the bristle base along the common longitudinal axis.
 7. The hair styling brush of claim 5 wherein the brush end of at least one handle is rotatably mounted to an end of the bristle base to allow relative motion between the rotably mounted handle and the bristle base along the common longitudinal axis. 